Your high and your friend’s high won’t be the same. Even if you consumed the same amount of the same strain at the same time you’d feel different effects. Why is that? There are many factors that can affect your high, from physical attributes to the product itself.
Before you consume, study up on the different factors that can affect your high.
Factor 1: Potency of the cannabis
The strength of the product you’re going to consume will play a huge role in how your body will react. Products that have a strong THC potency will likely make you feel more high. As a general rule, the higher the THC content, the stronger your physical high. If you consume a product that has equal amounts of THC and CBD, you may not feel the same high. This is because CBD can act as a buffer against the effects of THC when consumed together.
Factor 2: The method of consumption
If you’re smoking or vaping cannabis, you’ll feel different effects than if you ingested the cannabis through an edible or capsule. When you ingest cannabis, it’s processed through your gut and liver, which means you’ll have longer-lasting effects. A lot of people report the high from edibles to be stronger as well. Inhaled cannabis is immediately absorbed into your bloodstream through the longs, so while the effects won’t be as long, they’ll hit you a lot sooner.
Factor 3: Your body
Your weight can play a big role in how your body reacts to cannabis as well. A heavier person will require more cannabis to feel the effects. Other factors that can play into your high are your metabolism, respiratory system health, liver health, or certain pre-existing medical conditions. These systems are responsible for processing cannabis in your body.
Factor 4: Your tolerance level
An experienced cannabis user is going to require more cannabis to feel the effects. They’ve built up their cannabis tolerance and their body has gotten used to smaller amounts of THC. Newer cannabis consumers will need a lot less to feel the effects, so make sure you start low and go slow when consuming cannabis.
Factor 5: Food, alcohol, or other consumption
Health Canada lists consumption of food, alcohol, other drugs or health products as factors that can affect your high. They recommend avoiding mixing cannabis and other substances as it can lead to more adverse effects. In terms of food, someone who goes the day without eating and then consumes cannabis will experience a different high, although there is still debate as to whether an empty stomach makes the effects weaker or stronger. It’s just another example of how everyone’s body reacts differently to the same scenarios.
Ultimately, your high will change every time you consume cannabis. There’s no way to recreate the same environment every single time, so your best bet is to start low and go slow. We also recommend keeping a cannabis journal to track your experiences with different strains, amounts, or formats and the effect they have on your body.
*NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list of factors that contribute to a person’s high. Every person’s body reacts differently to cannabis. If you are concerned about how a pre-existing medical condition may affect your cannabis consumption, consult with a doctor.